Fairy (Magic) (2024)

FAQs

How do you break a fairy deal? ›

Fairy deals can only be broken by the Fairy Queen using her blood to paint a specific rune, though she stated that breaking fairy deals have consequences. Once a deal is broken the humans who could perceive fairies as a result of the deal will instantly lose the ability to perceive them.

Depending on which folk tradition one uses, fairies can do anything from magically transporting themselves or other beings to being able to change a being or object into something else. In short they can have the same powers as sorcerers.

Some abilities with fairy magic include the transformation of objects or beings, telekinesis and telepathy of inanimate objects. Fairies have the ability to hide their wings from view as well as enlarge themselves to the size of a human, but according to the Blue Fairy, this must not be done without a good reason.

Fairies in these myths may be of the more cartoonish variety and signify simply love, magic and springtime, but most signify things like death, sexual depravity, abduction and general immorality. This exhibition looks at representation of fairies within art of many different mediums and time periods.

Fae will steal adults as well. They are particularly fond of musicians and poets and will take them away to their realm for their entertainment. They also take humans who offend them and transform them into strange creatures or keep them as servants. In some versions of the story of Tam Lin the bard, he went willingly.

The Great Fairy Magics comprise three all-powerful spells; Fairy Law, Fairy Glitter, and Fairy Sphere. The origins of all three spells can be traced back to Mavis Vermillion, Fairy Tail's first guild master.

Fairies blow away bad dreams, take care of sick or hurt insects, collect teeth, write notes, take worries away, grant wishes, watch dreams at night to learn more about their humans, collect food and train Greenwings (trainee fairies). These are just a few of the jobs they do.

Where do fairies live? ›

Traditionally, Fairies can live in your house, your garden, in a flower pot or even a tree but being such adaptable beings, they can live practically anywhere that takes their fancy.

Favorite foods include nectar, morning dew, flower buds, honey, nuts, fruit (especially berries of all kinds), fresh baked bread, fruit jams and jelly, syrups, candy, and fruit pies. Some are also quite fond (addicted even) of alcohol, especially wines and sweet liqueurs.

Writing in 1887, Lady Jane Wilde popularised the Irish belief that: fairies are the fallen angels who were cast down by the Lord God out of heaven for their sinful pride…and the devil gives to these knowledge and power and sends them on earth where they work much evil.

Demoted angels

A Christian tenet held that fairies were a class of "demoted" angels. One story described a group of angels revolting, and God ordering the gates of heaven shut; those still in heaven remained angels, those in hell became demons, and those caught in between became fairies.

It is unknown why the fairies call humans "Mud Men"; this may result from the fairies' conception that uncivilized, low-tech people are nothing more than cave-men, thus mud men, and that they are filthy in comparison to fairies.

If you've studied fairy lore for more than five minutes, you'll know that you don't ever say “thank you” because it implies an obligation on your end (you've just agreed to a contract you didn't know you were agreeing to) or it's insulting to the fae, because it implies they are there to serve you.

Destroying a fairy ring is unlucky and fruitless; superstition says it would simply grow back.

In addition to iron, there are also herbs that are believed to repel fairies. Ivy, blackberry stalks, boxwood (a common landscape shrub but one not native to the US) and rowan (native in Europe/mountain ash is related and found in the US).